U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800

Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001

85–553PDF 2013

CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF UNITED STATES

CITIZEN SAEED ABEDINI AND CONDEMNING

THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN FOR ITS PERSECUTION OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES

MARKUP

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON 

THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

H. Res. 147

NOVEMBER 13, 2013

Serial No. 113–77

Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

(

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/ or

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/

(II)

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman 

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey 

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida 

DANA ROHRABACHER, California 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

JOE WILSON, South Carolina 

MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas 

TED POE, Texas 

MATT SALMON, Arizona 

TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania 

JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina 

ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois 

MO BROOKS, Alabama 

TOM COTTON, Arkansas 

PAUL COOK, California 

GEORGE HOLDING, North Carolina 

RANDY K. WEBER SR., Texas 

SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania 

STEVE STOCKMAN, Texas 

RON DESANTIS, Florida 

TREY RADEL, Florida 

DOUG COLLINS, Georgia 

MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina 

TED S. YOHO, Florida 

LUKE MESSER, Indiana 

ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York 

ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American 

Samoa 

BRAD SHERMAN, California 

GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York 

ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey 

GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia 

THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida 

BRIAN HIGGINS, New York 

KAREN BASS, California 

WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts 

DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island 

ALAN GRAYSON, Florida 

JUAN VARGAS, California 

BRADLEY S. SCHNEIDER, Illinois 

JOSEPH P. KENNEDY III, Massachusetts 

AMI BERA, California 

ALAN S. LOWENTHAL, California 

GRACE MENG, New York 

LOIS FRANKEL, Florida 

TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii 

JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas

AMY PORTER, Chief of Staff THOMAS SHEEHY, Staff Director

JASON STEINBAUM, Democratic Staff Director 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida, Chairman 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

JOE WILSON, South Carolina 

ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois 

TOM COTTON, Arkansas 

RANDY K. WEBER SR., Texas 

RON DESANTIS, Florida 

TREY RADEL, Florida 

DOUG COLLINS, Georgia 

MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina 

TED S. YOHO, Florida 

LUKE MESSER, Indiana 

THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida 

GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia 

BRIAN HIGGINS, New York 

DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island 

ALAN GRAYSON, Florida 

JUAN VARGAS, California 

BRADLEY S. SCHNEIDER, Illinois 

JOSEPH P. KENNEDY III, Massachusetts 

GRACE MENG, New York 

LOIS FRANKEL, Florida 

(III)

C O N T E N T S 

Page

MARKUP OF 

H. Res. 147, Calling for the release of United States citizen Saeed Abedini 

and condemning the Government of Iran for its persecution of religious 

minorities .............................................................................................................. 2

LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC., SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD 

The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Representative in Congress from the 

State of Florida, and chairman, Subcommittee on the Middle East and 

North Africa: Prepared statement ...................................................................... 5

APPENDIX 

Markup notice .......................................................................................................... 10

Markup minutes ...................................................................................................... 11

Markup summary .................................................................................................... 12

(1)

CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF UNITED 

STATES CITIZEN SAEED ABEDINI AND CONDEMNING THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN FOR 

ITS PERSECUTION OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA,

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS,

Washington, DC. 

The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:30 p.m., in room 

2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen 

(chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Pursuant to notice, for purposes of markup, 

I call up H. Res. 147, calling for the release of United States citizen 

Saeed Abedini, and condemning the Government of Iran for its persecution of religious minorities. 

The clerk will read. 

Mr. PENA. H. Res. 147, calling for the release of United States 

citizen Saeed Abedini, and condemning the Government of Iran——

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Without objection, the measure is considered 

as read and open for amendment at any point. 

[H. Res. 147 follows:]

2


85553a-1.eps
3


85553a-2.eps
4

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank the author of this bill, Bill Cassidy, 

for bringing forth this important legislation this afternoon. Despite 

Rouhani’s rhetoric and his charm offensive, every indication is that 

he continues in his predecessor’s footsteps and has not halted or 

even curbed the regime’s systematic and widespread human rights 

violations. 

Since he took office, the Iranian regime has conducted over 200 

executions, with nearly 20 being conducted in public, and has renewed its repression of the media and civil society. 

Religious minorities have also gotten no reprieve from the regime. Last month, four Iranian Christians were sentenced to 80 

lashes for drinking sacramental wine during communion, and this 

past summer an Iranian Christian convert was sentenced to 10 

years in prison for distributing Bibles. 

This past August an American citizen, Pastor Saeed Abedini, was 

convicted and given an 8-year sentence for what the regime said 

was undermining the government. In reality, he was arrested and 

convicted for preaching his Christian faith. Earlier this month Iranian authorities transferred Pastor Saeed to a notorious prison 

that is reserved for Iran’s most violent criminals, and where his life 

is in danger on a daily basis. 

These are not isolated incidents, and it is time for the Iranian 

regime to end its persecution of religious minorities and immediately release Saeed and others like him. By passing H. Res. 147, 

we will send a strong message to Pastor Saeed, his family, and to 

the Iranian people who wish to practice their faiths openly and 

freely. We stand with them during this time of despair, and we will 

continue to press for respect of human rights in Iran. Let’s bring 

Pastor Saeed home so that he can reunite with his wife and two 

children, where he belongs. 

[The prepared statement of Ms. Ros-Lehtinen follows:]


85553a-3.eps
5

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I would now like to recognize any member 

from the Democratic side to speak for Mr. Deutch in support of the 

resolution if they wish. 

Fearless Leader Cicilline. 

Mr. CICILLINE. Thank you, Madam Chair, and I would like to 

also compliment Mr. Cassidy and say what an important piece of 

legislation this is, and how important it is that we send a very 

strong message on this issue. And I thank the chair for convening 

the hearing and calling for the markup. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, sir. 

I would like to recognize any members who seek recognition on 

the Republican side if they wish to speak. 

Mr. Cotton of Arkansas is recognized. 

Mr. COTTON. I am proud to sponsor this legislation, as well, calling for the release of Pastor Saeed Abedini, who has been arrested 


85553b.eps
6

and in prison since last year. Pastor Abedini traveled to Iran many 

times over the last 4 years to open an orphanage and preach his 

Christian faith, all with the approval of the Iranian regime. Since 

he has been arrested, he has been subject to brutal beatings for 

nothing more than ministering, and now he has been transferred 

to Karaj, a notorious prison where murder is an all too common occurrence. 

I hope that our administration strongly urges the Iranian regime 

to release Pastor Abedini so he can be reunited with his family. 

Unfortunately, though, his case is not isolated. The Iranian regime 

is a totalitarian bureaucracy that persecutes Christians and people 

of other faiths as well. This is not something that they do just as 

an accident of the nature of the regime. This is in the very heart 

of their regime to suppress religious freedom of all people in violation of numerous international obligations and treaties. So we have 

to ensure that Pastor Abedini is released, but also continue to pressure Iran to respect the natural rights of every one of its citizens. 

I yield back. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, sir. 

And any other members wish to seek recognition? If not, we 

would like to turn to the sponsor, the author of this important resolution, so he can be heard. The gentleman is recognized. 

Mr. CASSIDY. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Ranking 

Member. Thank you for having me here today to discuss this resolution, and I appreciate the work that the committee has done on 

this. 

Mr. Abedini is an American, an American who, while he lived in 

Iran, converted from Islam to Christianity. He was arrested in July 

2012 when he was visiting family and working in a nonsectarian 

orphanage. The Revolutionary Guard arrested him on charges of 

activities disruptive to the state; however, when he was sentenced 

to 8 years in prison, it was due to missionary activities which took 

place a decade earlier when such activities were legal in Iran. 

During his imprisonment. Mr. Abedini reportedly has suffered 

constant pain, internal bleeding, and has not received sufficient 

medical care. On more than one occasion, he was taken to the hospital, where the physician recommended he be admitted and the 

government would not allow this. On another occasion, a nurse refused to touch him because he is a Christian. As a physician I find 

that particularly offensive. 

To further underline the immediacy of the situation, just last 

week Mr. Abedini was transferred to the notorious prison, Rajai 

Shahr, a prison facility where political prisoners simply disappear 

and/or are killed by other prisoners. He has reportedly been placed 

in a ward that houses murderers, is in a cell with other death-row 

inmates and is not allowed visitors. When Mr. Abedini’s father 

went to visit, he was denied entry, and the blankets and medications he brought to treat his son’s internal bleeding were taken 

away. His wife Naghmeh has said that she is more concerned now 

about his safety than at any other time during his imprisonment. 

This is an American being held hostage by the Government of 

Iran. I ask that you pass this resolution out of committee so that 

we can increase pressure on Iran to release Mr. Abedini from his 

wrongful imprisonment and allow him to return back to the United 

7

States where he is a citizen and to be reunited with his wife and 

his young children. 

I yield back. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, sir. 

Seeing no further requests for time, and no amendments being 

offered, the chair now moves that the committee agree to H. Res. 

147. 

All those in favor, say aye. 

All opposed, no. 

In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, and the measure 

is agreed to. 

Without objection, House Res. 147 is ordered favorably reported 

to the full committee, and the staff is directed to make any technical and conforming changes. 

Thank you, Mr. Cassidy, for this bill. 

[Whereupon, at 2:35 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.] 

(9)

A P P E N D I X 

MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD

10

f


85553n.eps
11

f


85553m.eps
12

Æ


85553s.eps